Texas Victims and Accused Killer From San Diego County

2 years ago

A San Marcos man who allegedly murdered his former sister-in-law, her husband and four of their five children in the victims' Texas home had gotten into a fight with his mother a week earlier at their northern San Diego County residence, prompting her to get a restraining order against him, authorities said today.

Ronald Lee Haskell Jr., 33, allegedly forced his way into the victims' Harris County house on Wednesday evening, clad in a FedEx uniform, tied them up and shot them execution-style when they refused to tell him where ex-wife was, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Killed were Stephen Stay, 39, his 34-year-old wife, Katie, and their children Bryan, 13, Emily, 9, Rebecca, 7, and Zach, 4. Another daughter, Cassidy, 15, survived and identified Haskell as the alleged shooter, according to police.

Officers pursued Haskell into a nearby subdivision, where he surrendered following an hours-long standoff in a cul-de-sac.

Late on the morning of July 2, Haskell and his mother, Karla, had gotten into an argument at their home in the 1100 block of Harwich Drive in San Marcos, according to San Diego County sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Deese.

During the quarrel, the woman tried to leave the house and call for help, but was restrained by her son, Deese said.

About 3 p.m., Haskell left. His mother then tried to make an emergency call, but could not find her phone. The Sheriff's Department was notified about the dispute that evening, after Karla's daughter returned home, the sergeant said.

A deputy went to the residence, spoke to Karla Haskell and took a crime report. He also gave her information on how to obtain a temporary restraining order against her son, which she later did.

For several days, sheriff's personnel searched areas the suspect was known to frequent but were unable to find him, Deese said.